Spinning-top.



N. ASAKAWA & D. OKAMOT0. SPINNING TOP. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. 19 161 Patented July 11, 1916.

I N V5 70/? 5 JVa/sugoro flsakawa 201/048 044/97 f I By v ATTORNEY burrs s are SPINNING-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed March 21, 1916. Serial No. 85,593.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NATSUGORO ASAKAWA and DAITAKE OKAMoTo, subjects of the Emperor of Japan, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spinning-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tops and to improvements in devices for holding a top during the operation of imparting a spinning motion thereto, and the object of this improvement is to provide a spinning top of a cheap and durable form of construction, together with a top holder of novel design whereby a rapid spinning motion may be easily imparted to the top.

The invention consists in the novel construction of a top, and the adaptation and combination of such top with spinning devices of a novel form of construction, as will be more clearly described in the following specification, illustrated in the accom panying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical cross-section of a top embodying the invention, the stem being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the same as it appears when associated with the top-spinning devices; Fig. 3 is a view in crosssection on broken line 33 0f Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a plan view of the top and top-spinning devices illustrating the position in which it is held for spinning; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the top-spinning device, and Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary views partly in cross-section and partly in elevation illustrating "operative positions of the spinning device. 7

Referring to the several views throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 8 indicates a cylindrical casingor drum that is fitted at both ends with disks or plugs 9 and is provided with an axially disposed spindle or stem 10 that projectsbelow the bottom disk 9 sufliciently to form a point on which the top will spin, and above the top disk 10 sufficiently to re ceive a large number of turns of a string 11 that is wound thereon as shown in Figs. 2 and 4;.

The drum 8 is preferably formed of a hollow piece of bamboo, the disks 9 are fitted into the ends of the bamboo drum and securely glued thereto, and the stem 10 is glued securely in the end disks 9 thus making a light strong structure that is very cheap and easy to construct.

The end disks 9 are made by turning so that they are true circles, and when they are placed in the ends of the drum 8 they tend to correct any irregularity in the shape of such drum and combine with it to form a perfectly balanced cylinder.

The drum 8 is provided with one or more circumferential slots 12 that are undercut on one edge thereof, as shown at 13, Fig. 3, whereby when the top is spinning in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the sharp edge 13 willcut through the air and produce a musical sound like the low-pitched not-es of a siren.- The angular undercut portion 13 further ofi'ers less resistance to the air than a squarecut edge would offer.

An important feature of this invention resides in a holder 15 of concavo-convex crosssectional shape and having a perforatio-n'lG at one end through which the string 11 may be passed, the convex side of the holder being placed in contact with the top stem 10 and cord that is wound thereupon preparatory to spinning.

The operation of spinning this top is easy and simple. The end of the string 11 is first laid lengthwise along the top of the stem, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the string is then wound downwardly overthe loose end in a well-known manner, so that it presents the appearance of a right-hand screw-thread. At the point where the string takes off of the stem 10, it passes through the perforation 16 in the holder 15 which is preferably held in the left hand as shown in Fig. l, thus leaving the right hand free to grasp and pull the string. When the bottom edge of the holder 15 is free from the end of the cylinder in Fig. 2, a hard pull on the string 11 will unwind it rapidly from the small stem 10 and .a rapid spinning motion will be imparted to the top, the holder 15 moving upwardly with a relatively small resistance as the string unwinds, but when the string 11 is wound almost down to the top end of the cylinder 8, as shown in Fig. 6, and then the device is held as shown in Fig. 1 with the string under tension, the last lap of the string-being below the perforation 16 will draw the holder '15 down tightly against the top end of the cylinder 8 and cause it to act as a brake to prevent the cylinder from turning, the last lap of the string further increasing the brake effect by binding on the lap above it and on the edge of the perfo-ration. When the string is wound up as described, the top may be held in a suspended position, as shown in Fig. 4, while it is being lowered to the floor. After the end of the top has been placed on the floor, the holder may be given a slight cant, as shown in Fig. 7, to relieve the pressure of the holder on the top of the cylinder and permit the last lap of the cord to assume a more nearly straight position, whereupon the string will begin to unwind and a rapid spinning motion will be imparted to the top, as hereinbefore described.

hat we claim and desire to protect by LettersPatent is 1. A top having a long axially-disposed spindle and a holder comprising a thin strip having a convex surface adapted to engage said spindle, and a perforation through which a string may pass.

2. A' top comprising a cylindrical body portion having an axially-disposed spindle that projects above and below said body por tion, a string for said spindle, and aholder comprising a thin strip having a convex surface adapted to engage one side of said spindle, said holder having a perforation through which said string may pass.

3. A top comprising a hollow cylindrical body-portion having a Vertical slot provided therein, said slot having an angular undercut edge, disks secured within the ends of said body portion, an axially disposed spindle that projects above and below said body point near the top of said body portion and a pull is exerted thereon, the bottom edge of said holder will be caused to bear down on said body portion to act as a brake and prevent said top from spinning.

5. A top holder comprising a thin strip having a convex bearing surface and provided with a perforation through which a string may pass.

6. A top comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion having a vertical slot provided therein, said slot having an angular undercut edge, disks secured within the ends of said body portion, and an axially disposed spindle that projects above and below said body portion.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 23rd day of February, 1916.

NATSUGORO ASAKAVVA. DAITAKE OKAMOTO. Witnesses:

E. PETERSON, HORACE BARNES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

